Just joined the site and it's looking very good indeed. I had a few questions I was hoping someone could answer for me. I have a bit of a problem at the moment, as I have been hoping to join the police force for a while now, but very recently have a strong urge to do some military service before I go in. The reason being I think I could do with the life experience and discipline that the military gives you before settling into a lifelong career as a cop. I am very drawn towards the royal marines, as I have heard that they are highly proffesional, and also when I visited the AFCO the person on the front desk was a royal marine and he was the nicest guy in the whole place. However the only thing that worries me is as the basic training is so tough, I imagine you get a lot of ********* in the royal marines, I mean no offence by this and please let me know if I am mistaken. If anyone here can offer me any further advice then it would be appreciated.

Just joined the site and it's looking very good indeed. I had a few questions I was hoping someone could answer for me. I have a bit of a problem at the moment, as I have been hoping to join the police force for a while now, but very recently have a strong urge to do some military service before I go in. The reason being I think I could do with the life experience and discipline that the military gives you before settling into a lifelong career as a cop. I am very drawn towards the royal marines, as I have heard that they are highly proffesional, and also when I visited the AFCO the person on the front desk was a royal marine and he was the nicest guy in the whole place. However the only thing that worries me is as the basic training is so tough, I imagine you get a lot of ********* in the royal marines, I mean no offence by this and please let me know if I am mistaken. If anyone here can offer me any further advice then it would be appreciated.

Cheers,
solo

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I joined Plod, over thirty years ago after serving in the RN. At that time they heavily recruited ex servicemen. Since then Political Correctness and Qualifications have taken over, the buzz words are Ethnic/Female Groups (Avon and Somerset Constabulary have, I believe, recently paid compensation to a white male for discrimination, they binned his application in favour of Ethnic and Female applicants), watch any news item now and its likely to be Female Officer featured.
I have problems with this, not from a sexist of racist point of view, but I have doubts that female officers have the strength and mindset to with stand, say the rigours of the picket line for long periods at a time. I speak with some experience having spent time facing the Miners pickets in the early '80's, an exhausting experience. Having said that Female Officers do some jobs a lot better than their male counterparts. My problem is that if you recruit up to a 50/50 level Male/Female you will not have the Manpower to Police for long periods large scale riots etc.
Its the same with Qualifications, if you recruit largely from highly educaionally qualified people you reach a point where they realise that they cannot all be promoted to the higher ranks, discontent creeps in and they either leave or become ineffective, like it or lump it every organisation requires chiefs and indians and you have to recruit accordingly.
I certainly fount that my Forces experience stood me in good stead in the Constabulary, especially a well developed sense of humour

Hey Solo, delighted you are interested in a career in the Old Bill vis the RM. We are certainly looking for switched on people in the same Vein. To declare my colours i am an RM. Having taken recruits through training my view is that you would struggle to maintain the motivation required if you are not committed to a proper career in the Corps rather than the Corps as a stepping stone. Training can be a slog with lows (and highs) in motivation. You need a clear focus of wanting to do the job itself to carry you through the troughs.

What are your educational qualifications? Have you considered officer training?

Best advice is to look into all the options then decide if a carrer in the RM is what you want. If all you want is life experience then i suggest you go travling for a few years or get a McJob and see how much bagging off you can do. If you really want to be an RM then get back down to the Afco and start working out on the Pull Up bar.